Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-06-15

had been here on q visit sixteen years ago, and
was so pleased that he could not refrain from
coming here on this occasion with his friend
and neighbor, Gen. Averill. He was greatly
pleased with the manifestation of fraternai
feeling here exhibited which he knew 10 Dc
honest and unfeigned. Though persons may
differ in their opinions, they should still De
friends. He liked persons to express freely
their honest convictions. He always did that
himself and he liked for others to do likewise
His friendly remarks were heard with pleasure
and were greeted with applause.
COL, J. c. SHIELDS INTRODUCES MR.. CARLTON
MCCARTHY, OF RICHMOND.
Col. ]. c. shields then introduced Mr. Carlton
Mccarthy, of Richmond, the author of Soldier
Life in the Army of Northern Virginia"
which he did as follows:-
This feature of our memorial ceremonies
would be incomplete without the participation
of the private-the Individual soldier-who. as
he has been sketched by the gentleman that
will now address you, "Was moved by Inc
heart which is greater than the mind, secure
in his own rectitude of purpose and accounIa-
BILE only to his God"
The duty 1 am called upon to perform, In
introducing him, is one of special personal
pleasure to me, for he won his renown whilst
serving in the battery of which had the honor
to be the first commandant. Iintroduceprivate
Carlton MCCARTHY. of the First Company,
Richmond Howitzers, author Of Soldier Life
in the Army of Northern Virginia" and SecTe-
tary of the Association of that army.
MR. CARLTON M'CARTHY's SPEECH.
Asa representative OF the vast and honor
able constituency. of the private soldier. he
did credit to himself and reflected honor upon
the constituency he represented. His speech
in matter and manner was unique, and SUI
oeneris-it was like no other, and was its own
parallel. The manner of its delivery was
easy graceful and humorous, whilst Its mat
ter was pregnant with aphorisms of WISDOM
Whilst he was so considerate as to announce,
before he entered upon his address. that IL
would not displease him in the least degree II
persons should leave whilst he was speaking.
for whilst all knew how long the speeches OF
those were who preceded him, no mortal man
could tell how long his would be. Such was
the manner in which he interested and enter
tanned the audience that none awaited them
selves of the privilege he SO generously &C.
corded them, but heard him through, and
wished him to continue longer. His patriotic
sentiments, warm Southern devotion, sound
maxims, pointed wit. and genial humor. not
only pleased, but captivated his vast audience.
He seemed to have possessed the "Open Sc
same'' to the intellectual treasure-house of
Seneca from the number of nuggets of wis
dom he presented of that ancient Grecian
sage. His frequent quotations Of Seneca
caused smile in'the audience, when hepaused,
and humorously said. "It seemed that he Yves
not allowed to be original" He repealed with
Indignation the idea that Confederate soldiers
were rebels and traitors, and asked, Are we
paying memorial honors to criminals, to
traitors? No, they were patriots who fought.
cd cd their country. Their cause
was right-the South aOas right, and will al
ways be right" Turning to Gems. Lee and
Averin on the stage he said. 1.-The military
men are not always impartial judges, and
sometimes give the award to the wrong man."
He is what the North would denominate an
"unreconstructed rebel" Though his senti-
ments were extreme, his sincerity and honesty
of conviction were 30 palpable. and his humor
SO genial, that they were received with pleasure
even by those who did not concur with him
for they approved his patriotism and Southern
devotion, even if they did not agree with his
opinions,
During his speech, his quaintness of manner
and the originality of his views, elected ap-
plause and frequent bursts of laughter.
THE FINALE.
During the afternoon, the fine company of
infantry, Captain Roller, from Harrisonburg,
which received so many concentrations, ap-
peared in front of the City Hall and exercised
in dress parade-the Harrisonburg Band fur
nishing the music. The parade over, the line
of march for the depot was taken up amid
huzzas and cheering for the Harrisonburg con-
tribution to the interest of the day.
The regular and special trains had brought
large crowds to Staunton, and at the hour for
returning all had departed. From the sur
rounding country and by all the modes OF
travel known to the rural districts, the people.
old and young. white and colored. had joined
in the ceremonies OF memorial day, and, before
nightfall, were on the way to their homes
They came not empty handed and only to OBJ
serve but brought with them provisions for
the dinner furnished under the auspices of the
ladies, and many baskets of flowers to bedeck
the graves Of the honored dead.
AN INTERESTING LECTURE THE NIGHT PRE-.
vIoUs.-By invitation of the Staunton Artil
lery. General Imboden, who was the first COM
mandant of the company. which was organic
ed in November, 1852 was under promise to
lecture for its bedef1t and filled the engage
ment at the Opera House on the night of the
Sth. General AverilI and Mr.. Mccarthy were
present on the stage. Captain Long and
~ Lieuts. O'Rork and Kinney of the Artillery
escorted General I'm boden to the stand. There
was another veteran there-that matchless SOL
dier and accomplished gentleman, Captain
James Bumgardner, Jr., who had been de-
signated to introduce-no, not that as he said
but to announce General 1mboden's appear
ance before the audience. That was done in
style worthy of the speaker and the occasion.
General Imboden, he said, was here in the
county of his birth, and the scene of his early
life, and the services of his natured manhood.
40 hod Had io,p Ito STE
representative of the great old county for
many sessions in the legislature. Coming on to
the times when war opened upon us he was re-
ferred to in connection with the splendid COM
mand with which he entered the services and
closed by naming few of the incidents in
battle and the high record the battery had
made
General Imboden, in his opening remarks :.
gave an interesting sketch of the times as they
were in November, 1859, when the company
was formed, and the early efforts to equip it
with battery, calling up hissinterviews with
Governor Wise, General Dimnock, and the
rapidly crowding events that came to pass
Here he paused awhile to speak of the "West
Augusta Guards" that fine infantry company
then in existence here, and the noble spirits
both officers and men, it embraced.
The march to the lower Valley and Harper's
were ordered to execute. the battle of Manassas,
and the Artillery conflict between the Staun-
ton battery of four smooth-bore FOUNDERS
without infantry support, and Ricketts, and
sherman's batteries II rifles and howitzers,
were described in a manner as thrilling as they
were true. The Federal batteries were disabled
and Ricket wounded and carried from the
field were the results before the Staunton bat
terry had orders TO retire. for they failed to
reeeh 1t became the staf-officer bearing them
had fallen, and the immortal Bee, the brigade
commander, had been slain Immediately after
they were issued.
From Manassas to the Potomac, and then on
every field where its scores Of conflicts were
merely named, he said that it was reported
distinguished by every General officer under
whom it served. At Manassas it held a posi-
ton. and could not be dislodged. and thereby
delayed McDowell's movements, and on the